Korean ensures McDowell packs bags early again
Woods, seeking his first official PGA Tour win for two-and-a-half years, overcame some wayward driving to go to the last with a one-up lead but bunkered his approach before clinching an unconvincing one-hole win over the Madrid star to set up a second round clash with compatriot Nick Watney today.
Clarke was simply too rusty to give Watney a fight in his match and went down without a whimper, 5&4.
As for McDowell, the Irishman can only hope that rumours of a move away from Dove Mountain next year come to fruition after losing to the dogged YE Yang for the second year running, this time by 2&1.
“I hear they are leaving this golf course next year and perhaps going somewhere else so I’ll not be sad to see the back of this place,” McDowell said after his fourth first-round loss in his last five starts in this event.
“I love this resort and they take care of us but this golf course has not been good to me. It doesn’t inspire me to make a ton of birdies even though I played beautiful today.
“To win just three matches here in four years is disappointing because I have played better than that every year. I made six birdies today and played decent golf but ran into a man who played extremely well.
“I felt like I had to follow him in all day long and I did most of the way but he didn’t put a foot wrong,”
McDowell added. “That’s the beauty of this tournament — or maybe the beast — you run into the wrong guy on the wrong day and you’ve got your work cut out and I had my work cut out today. I am disappointed because I am going to go and pack my bags here at five past 11 on a Wednesday morning.”
McDowell’s pal Ian Poulter was another big name to make an early exit as he lost 4&3 to the talented Korean Bae Sang-moon.
Rory McIlroy needs to win this week and hope that Luke Donald doesn’t get past the second round if he is to become world number one on Sunday.
Completed first round matches at the WGC-Accenture Match Play, Arizona:
Graeme McDowell (Irl) lost to Y E Yang (Kor) 2&1; Hunter Mahan bt Zach Johnson at the 19th hole; Bill Haas lost to Ryo Ishikawa (Jpn) 1 down; Justin Rose (Eng) lost to Paul Lawrie (Sco) 1 down; Dustin Johnson bt Jim Furyk at the 20th hole; Thomas Bjorn (Den) lost to Francesco Molinari (Ita) at the 20th hole; Charl Schwartzel (Rsa) bt Gary Woodland 4&2; Ian Poulter (Eng) lost to Bae Sang-moon (Prk) 4&3; Steve Stricker bt Kevin Na 2&1; Louis Oosthuizen (Rsa) bt Aaron Baddeley (Aus) 2&1; Webb Simpson lost to Matteo Manassero (Ita) 3&2; Alvaro Quiros (Spa) lost to Martin Laird (Sco) 1 down; Adam Scott (Aus) lost to Robert Rock (Eng) 1 down; Bo Van Pelt lost to Mark Wilson 3&2; Simon Dyson (Eng) lost to John Senden (Aus) 4&3; Bubba Watson bt Ben Crane 3&2; Nick Watney bt Darren Clarke (Irl) 5&4.
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